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This morning, three events worth covering happened at the same time in Alexandria. I was able to make it to one. As of this writing, the other two have received no coverage from anyone.
That is not unusual. On any given day in this city, planning meetings, community forums, school events, and civic gatherings overlap in ways that make it impossible for one person to be everywhere. And right now, largely, I'm the only one covering them.
The Alexandria Brief launched because I live here, pay taxes here and saw an opportunity to bring independent journalism to a city where decisions that affect our daily lives go undocumented. Every story has my name on it. There are no anonymous bylines, no corporate ownership, no advertisers to answer to — just independent journalism, funded entirely by community members and answerable to neighbors.
But one person can only be in one place at a time. There are stories being missed.
I am looking for contributors.
A person or two who live in Alexandria, care about the city and can show up - to a community meeting, a neighborhood forum, a public hearing — and write clearly about what happened. A journalism degree is not required. What is required: a good listener, an honest writer, and someone who understands why local coverage matters.
The one firm requirement is that you are not already writing for another Alexandria news outlet. The goal is to expand the voices covering this city, not pull from the same small pool.
This is a paid, part-time position with variable hours — some weeks busier than others, depending on what is happening in the city. I value people's time and commitment, and that should be reflected. Reach out at ryan@alexandriabrief.com and tell me a little about yourself and why you are interested.
The connection between members and contributors is direct.
The Alexandria Brief has no paywall — all content is free for every Alexandria resident, regardless of whether you can pay. That is non-negotiable. But the journalism is not free to produce, and the ability to bring contributors on board depends entirely on community support.
Here is how membership works:
Supporter — $100 a year. You are sustaining independent local journalism and keeping it free for every neighbor who needs it.
Founding Member — $250 a year. For readers who want deeper engagement and are committed to helping build something sustainable in Alexandria.
Business Member — $500 a year. Listed on the Community Supporters page with your business name, neighborhood, and website link, plus recognition in the annual Thank You Publisher's Note.
Founding Business Member — $1,000 a year. Logo on the Community Supporters page and an invitation to an annual Business Members gathering.
Every level matters. The more support this publication receives, the more original reporting it can produce — and the more contributors it can support.
Every dollar you contribute goes directly back into the journalism we produce for Alexandria — including the contributors who help us tell the stories we cannot get to alone.
Subscribe or become a member here.
Thank you for reading and for your support,
— Ryan Belmore, Founder & Publisher, The Alexandria Brief
